Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
19 July 2012
At General Convention 2012, which just concluded, the delegates adopted a large number of resolutions. Some are controversial. Whether or not you agree with particular actions taken at General Convention is of secondary importance. How can this be? It is because of a simple reality: General Convention (GC) is not The Episcopal Church (TEC), and TEC is not the kingdom of God. GC delegates vote their own consciences. They are not representatives. Their beliefs may well be those of many in TEC, but whatever policy statements they agree upon, these policies become the doctrine and discipline of TEC only by virtue of adoption locally, or by virtue of an actual change in the Constitution and Canons, or the prayer book, of the Church.
The actions taken at GC sometimes do changes canons, as in the 2009 change to the disciplinary canons for clergy. GC 2012 has proposed structural changes in the Church, and a task force has been appointed to study options and to make recommendations to the next GC in 2015, but absent changes to the constitution and canons to effect a change in structure, the force of any recommendation is of no more consequence than the many, many statements issued in the past century and a half by political parties and the U.S. Congress itself that the Electoral College system of electing the president should be changed.
So much for constitutional or canonical change. What about adoption? Consider one example. Three years ago, GC 2009 adopted a resolution which stated that the Church should urge the government of the United States to agree to the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions. Did TEC parishes and dioceses in fact do this? Some may have; most did not. Again, the point is not whether American government policy on the environment is a good one. The point is how policy is adopted and implemented, and the simple fact is that the vast majority of actions taken at GC remain no more than statements of the sense of the delegates at GC, and have no effect on the identity of local congregations.
There is a final and more fundamental point to be made about adoption, and it relates to the fact that TEC is not the kingdom of God. Nothing in any statement of policy–or even in any canonical or constitutional change–changes who you are called to be in Jesus Christ. When we focus on who we are called to be in Jesus Christ, how we are called to live in the Holy Spirit, what we are called to do in new life together, then we are members of the household of God, whose true citizenship is in heaven. When we focus on this reality our differences become a source of strength, for we can both learn from and support each other as we together seek to follow our Lord. Remember who “the Church” is. You are.
Rector’s Forum: The forum previously scheduled for 22 July is being rescheduled to Sunday, 12 August, at 9 a.m. This will allow us to benefit from information received at the diocesan forum to be held at All Saints’, Appleton on Saturday, 11 August, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The forum on 12 August will not be a discussion of issues at large in the Church. It will focus on what we are called to, who we are called to be, and how nothing in this is changed by actions in the Church around us.
Being the Body: Please thank Pat Sather and Ed Clabots for cleaning the old sacristy. Please thank Pat Ford Smith for her help in the office.
Please take the opportunity to notify the office of any member or friend of the parish to whom we owe thanks, in order that we can publicize this in the weekly newsletter.
Biblical Literacy: The Bible Challenge and bible study will resume this week. The Bible Challenge meets on Tuesdays, following the 5:30 p.m. celebration of Holy Eucharist, and a light supper (pot luck). The 24 July session will review Week 21. Bible study for the Sunday lessons takes place on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. celebration of Holy Eucharist.
All Saints’, Elkhart Lake: Throughout the Summer, please be intentional about two things (whether or not you attend All Saints’): (1) Pray for this ministry, and for those who serve in it, that they may serve our Lord by bringing more to know, love, and serve Him; (2) Engage in mission yourself. You may know or meet people who you can ask to join you in worship, and All Saints’ can serve as a less formal setting that is more user-friendly in outreach. Invite seekers to worship with you.
Music this week:
Prelude Partita on the chorale ‘What God decrees is always good’ Pachelbel
Entrance Hymn 1 “Father, we praise thee”
Offertory Hymn 690 “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”
Comm. Hymn 343 “Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless”
Closing Hymn 524 “I love thy kingdom, Lord”
Postlude Toccata in F Pachelbel
Parish Notices
§ Sunday School Meeting: is scheduled Monday, July 23rd at 6:30pm for everyone who has children or is interested in making Jesus known to our youngest members is encouraged to attend. This will be a time for gathering information and questions answered. You will not be hounded into teaching if you attend.
§ Youth participation is requested: As full members of the Body of Christ the youth of the parish are encouraged to participate in all areas of parish life. This includes: being a lector-reading the lessons, bringing up the gifts, both in the Holy Roller (the red wagon) and collecting the offering. A musical offering will be made by the youth on September 23rd. Please contact Deacon Michele at mwhitford@gracesheboygan.com or Nick Whitford at njwhitford@gmail.com if you are interested in participating.
§ The Right Reverend Michael Eric Marshall: As part of a five-part series of sermons and events commemorating the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, Nashotah House Theological Seminary is pleased to welcome the Right Reverend Michael Eric Marshall as the second preacher in the series. Bishop Marshall will preach Thursday, 26 July 2012 at 5:00 p.m. in the historic Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin at Nashotah House. All events are open to the public, free of charge and include displays of original manuscripts of the Book of Common Prayer (1549, 1559 and 1662) and other historic Anglican texts from the Walter S. Underwood Prayer Book Collection, the centerpiece of the Frances Donaldson Library’s rare manuscript collection. There will be a van arranged for transportation. If you are interested in going please contact the office at 452-9659.
§ Second Annual Rummage Sale: Blessed Trinity Parish 319 Giddings Avenue Sheboygan Falls, is having a rummage sale Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 8am – 2pm in the Church Hall (in Basement) Items: Household items, toys, children’s clothes and small appliances. Food will be available as part of the sale. If you have any questions, please contact our Rummage Sale Chairperson: Nancy Bouche (467-4046).
§ The Commemoration of Blessed Charles Chapman Grafton is observed as a Feast Day of the Diocese of Fond du Lac at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. It is included in "Holy Men, Holy Women" by the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church. The Feast Day is August 30th, although the Commemoration liturgy may be translated to another day. The 2012 Commemoration will take place Saturday, August 25th at the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle, Fond du Lac. For more information and to register go to diofdl.org/grafton.
o 2:00pm―Lecture on Bishop Grafton. Our scheduled speaker is Mr. Richard J. Mammana, Jr., of New Haven, Connecticut, Founder and Director of Project Canterbury, tentatively speaking on the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament.
o 3:30pm―Evening Prayer.
o 4:00pm―Solemn Pontifical Mass followed by a “Blessing of Pilgrims”.
o 5:00pm―An “Old Fashioned Garden Party” in the Cathedral Close. Grafton came from a culture of Victorian Garden parties, which would have consisted of tea and coffee, bread and butter, biscuits, cake, sandwiches, fruit, lemonade, and ice cream. Perhaps even a harpist.
§ Register Now for EfM: Two classes are again forming this fall for EfM or Education for Ministry. Through the study of scripture, each individual is encouraged to learn more about who they are so they have a closer vision of what God desires for their lives. Each group gets to know each other, worships together and help each other discern God’s will for their lives and their ministries. It takes time and commitment to change ourselves and consequently our communities, but the rewards are great! Classes start on Tuesday, September 4, 9am at St. Paul’s in Plymouth, and at 6:00 pm. place to be determined. Cost is $350 for this college level class which starts the first year studying the Old Testament. Scholarships are available and clergy have been generous with their discretionary funds, if assistance is needed. Contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman for registration materials at bzimmy@excel.net or 920-893-5189. Get registered by August 15th, so you can receive your materials in time for the first class. These classes are not just for laity, clergy are always welcome and encouraged to attend so that they, too can be better leaders in their congregations.
§ Jesus was a carpenter; you can be too! Do God’s work this summer. We need your help in building a new home and a new life for a wonderful family in Plymouth! We will be building every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and there are many jobs to choose from, including: General Volunteers, Crew Leaders, Lunch Hosts, Fundraisers, and much more! “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.” Please contact Amanda Stopar for more information: buildhopelakeside@gmail.com or (920) 458-3399. For information about volunteering or making a donation of a meal to the upcoming builds, visit Habitat for Humanity Lakeside’s website at http://www.habitatlakeside.org/ or call our office at (920) 458-3399. I am praying we can all connect together to do something wonderful for our community.
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